2026 AP Race London International: Day Three Finals Live Recap

2026 AP RACE LONDON INTERNATIONAL

• Saturday, May 23rd – Monday May 25th
• Prelims at 9:30am local (4:30am ET)/Finals at 7pm local (2pm ET) Sat & Sun/Finals at 6:30pm local (1:30pm ET) on Mon
• London Aquatics Centre
• LCM (50m)
• SwimSwam Preview
• Meet Central
• Entries
• Day 1 Recap/Day 2 Recap
• Results
• Livestream

The third and final day of the 2026 AP Race London International is set to unfold tonight from the storied London Aquatic Centre.

We’re in for some potentially electric finals, with Olympians and world champions from around the world vying for titles and hardware against rising stars on both the men’s and women’s sides.

The men’s 800m freestyle will kick things off, with the fastest heat including the likes of German powerhouse athletes Oliver Klemet, Johannes Liebmann, and Florian Wellbrock. They’ll try to make it another German distance podium monopoly, although American Ryan Erisman and Olympic champion Daniel Wiffen of Ireland will try to put up a roadblock.

On-fire Anna Moesch of the United States will carry her momentum into the women’s 100m freestyle final, owning the top-seeded time of 53.23. That holds a healthy advantage over the rest of the field, with Czech swimmer Barbora Janickova having notched the next-closest morning outing in 54.63.

The men’s 50m fly features Estonia’s Ralf Tribuntsov, the man who already downed his own national record en route to winning 50m back gold yesterday evening.

Tribuntsov turned in a heats swim of 23.22 to lead the pack, one which includes countryman Daniel Zaitsev (23.43) and Jacob Peters of Great Britain (23.61). Jonny Kulow, the American who has performed solidly throughout this competition, lurks as the 7th-seeded athlete in 23.97.

British national record holder Ollie Morgan opted out of the men’s 50m back but will be in the water for tonight’s 100m backstroke main event.

Morgan holds the top seed in 54.90, narrowly ahead of Danish swimmer Robert Pedersen‘s 54.94.

Charlotte Crush of the United States dove in for two prelims this morning, hitting a time of 2:10.56 to earn the pole position in the 200m back and 58.79 to capture the 3rd seed in the 100m fly.

She’ll try to fend off Katie Shanahan and Freya Colbert in the former event, along with meet record holder and world champion Angelina Köhler in the latter.

An additional highlight of the evening will most likely be the men’s 200m freestyle, featuring Petar Mitsin of Bulgaria (1:47.78), Olympic multi-medalist James Guy (1:48.65), along with Matt Richards, Klemet and Liebmann. Of note, Jack McMillan and Duncan Scott bowed out of the heats of this event.

MEN’S 800 FREESTYLE – FINAL

• British Record – 7:44.32, David Davies, 2009
• European Record – 7:37.94, Johannes Liebmann (GER), 2026
• Meet Record – 7:45.63, Florian Wellbrock (GER), 2025

GOLD – Johannes Liebmann (GER), 7:44.12
SILVER – Ryan Erisman (USA), 7:45.42
BRONZE – Oliver Klemet (GER), 7:47.87

Germany’s potential run at a podium monopoly was broken up by 20-year-old American Ryan Erisman to kick off tonight’s finals session.

19-year-old European record holder Johannes Liebmann indeed grabbed the gold, posting a big-time result of 7:44.12 to reap the top spot and establish a new meet record. The European Record holder’s time of 7:44.12 overtook the meet benchmark of 7:45.63 that countryman Florian Wellbrock put on the books at last year’s edition of this competition.

American Ryan Erisman, the 400m freestyle silver medalist at this meet, earned another runner-up spot in 7:45.42, as Germany’s Oliver Klemet also landed on the podium in 7:47.87, good enough for bronze.

While winner Liebmann’s lifetime best remains at the 7:37.94 European Record he put on the books earlier this year to rank #1 in the world this season, Erisman’s 7:45.42 this evening represents a huge PB. It erased his 7:51.74 career-fastest mark from last year’s World University Games to now rank as the 7th-best American performer of all time in this 8free event.

WOMEN’S 100 FREESTYLE – FINAL

• British Record – 52.75, Anna Hopkin, 2021
• European Record – 51.71, Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 2017
• Meet Record – 52.77, Marrit Steenbergen (NED), 2025

GOLD – Anna Moesch (USA), 51.94 *Meet Record* *U.S. Record*
SILVER – Barbora Janickova (CZE), 54.06
BRONZE – Theodora Taylor (GBR), 54.21

Ok, people, there are impressive swims, and then there are performances like what 21-year-old American Anna Moesch just threw down in this women’s 100m freestyle.

Moesch lit the London Aquatics Centre pool on fire with an otherworldly time of 51.94 to obliterate the field and win this women’s 100m freestyle event.

The University of Virginia’s Moesch beat her competitors by over 2 seconds, unheard of in this type of sprint.

The Cavlier opened in 25.18 and closed in 26.76 to establish a new American Record after already wowing us with her prior AP Race performances in the 200m free (1:55.81) and 50m free (24.27).

Moesch is now the American record holder in this event and ranks as the #2 performer of all time, sitting only behind the World Record holder Sarah Sjostrom and her outing of 51.71 from 2017.

Czech athlete Barbora Janickova hit 54.06 as tonight’s silver medalist, while Britain’s versatile 17-year-old Theodora Taylor rounded out the podium in 54.21, a mark just .01 outside the teen’s lifetime best.

MEN’S 50 BUTTERFLY – FINAL

• British Record – 22.74, Ben Proud, 2025
• European Record – 22.27, Andrii Govorov (UKR), 2018
• Meet Record – 22.72, Nyls Korstanje (NED), 2025

GOLD – Daniel Zaitsev (EST), 23.25
SILVER – Josh Gammon (GBR), 23.49
BRONZE – Abduljabar Adama (NGR), 23.56

For whatever reason, top-seeded Ralf Tribunstov of Estonia bowed out of tonight’s men’s 50m fly final, which left his 29-year-old teammate Daniel Zaitsev to target the gold medal.

Zaitsev was successful, posting 23.25 as the victor, with British swimmer Josh Gammon touching next in 23.49.

Nigeria’s Abduljabar Adama rounded out the podium in 23.56, just off his national record of 23.48 established at last year’s World Junior Championships.

WOMEN’S 50 BREASTSTROKE – FINAL

• British Record – 30.02, Imogen Clark, 2022
• European Record – 29.16, Ruta Meilutyte (LTU), 2023
• Meet Record – 30.02, Eneli Jefimova (EST), 2025

GOLD – Eneli Jefimova (EST), 30.39
SILVER – Veer Kivirinta (FIN), 30.59
BRONZE – Piper Enge (USA), 30.66

Nothing too crazy transpired in the final of the women’s 50m breaststroke as no athlete dipped beneath the 30-second barrier.

20-year-old Eneli Jefimova of Estonia grabbed the gold in 30.39, only .27 off the 30.02 meet record she established last year.

Finnish athlete Veer Kivirinta reaped silver in 30.59 tonight, followed by American Piper Enge, who also landed on the podium in 30.66, good enough for bronze.

The British national record holder, Imogen Clark, was relegated to 4th place in 30.70, as the 100m and 200m breaststroke winner here, Angharad Evans, settled for 5th place in 30.77.

WOMEN’S 800 FREESTYLE – FINAL

• British Record – 8:14.10, Rebecca Adlington, 2008
• European Record – 8:12.81, Simona Quadarella (ITA), 2025
• Meet Record – 8:23.35, Isabel Gose (GER), 2024

GOLD – Isabel Gose (GER), 8:24.26
SILVER – Mila Nikanorov (USA), 8:28.41
BRONZE – Airi Ebina (JPN), 8:29.24

The women’s 800m freestyle saw yet another German get it done for gold, further establishing the nation as THE premier mid-distance/distance freestyle capital of the world.

24-year-old Olympic medalist Isabel Gose stopped the clock at 8:24.26 to earn the gold, over four seconds ahead of Mila Nikanorov of the United States, who snatched silver in 8:28.41.

Airi Ebina continues to be the sole Japanese medalist of this competition, following up her 1500m freestyle silver with a bronze in this shorter event.

Gose’s season-best remains at the 8:24.18 she clocked at last month’s German Championships to rank as the 10th-fastest female on the planet at the moment.

WOMEN’S 200 BACKSTROKE – FINAL

• British Record – 2:06.66, Gemma Spofforth, 2009
• European Record – 2:04.94, Anastasia Zuyeva (RUS), 2009
• Meet Record – 2:09.28, Honey Osrin (GBR), 2025

GOLD – Charlotte Crush (USA), 2:08.63
SILVER – Ellen Walshe, (IRL), 2:10.88
BRONZE – Freya Colbert (GBR), 2:11.07

18-year-old Charlotte Crush of the United States held her own in this women’s 200m backstroke field, ripping a lifetime best of 2:08.63 to earn the top spot.

Ireland’s Ellen Walshe settled for silver in 2:10.88, as British phenom Freya Colbert rounded out the podium in 2:11.07.

As for Crush, the stars n’ stripes athlete’s outing overtook the previous meet record of 2:09.28, which domestic star Honey Osrin put on the books last year.

Crush’s lifetime best remains at the 2:07.05 turned in at last year’s National Championships. Walshe, however, put the Irish national record on notice, falling just shy of the 2:10.75 Melanie Nocher logged in 2012.

MEN’S 100 BACKSTROKE – FINAL

• British Record – 52.12, Ollie Morgan, 2025
• European Record – 51.60, Thomas Ceccon (ITA), 2022
• Meet Record – 53.10, Ollie Morgan (GBR), 2025

GOLD – Ollie Morgan (GBR), 53.81
SILVER – Jakub Krischke (CZE), 54.51
BRONZE – Robert Pedersen (DEN), 54.52

Nothing too crazy transpired in this men’s 100m backstroke final, as just one competitor cleared the 54-second barrier in the medal-contending race.

British national record holder Ollie Morgan dominated the field, hitting 53.81 as the gold medalist.

Czech ace Jakub Krischke was next to the wall over half a second behind in 54.51, as Danish athlete Robert Pedersen bagged the bronze a hair later in 54.52.

Morgan already ranks as the 3rd-swiftset performer in the world thus far this season, courtesy of the 52.41 registered at last month’s Aquatics GB Championships.

WOMEN’S 100 BUTTERFLY – FINAL

• British Record – 57.25, Ellen Gandy, 2012
• European Record – 55.48, Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 2016
• Meet Record – 57.14, Angelina Köhler (GER), 2024

GOLD – Angelina Köhler (GER), 57.00
SILVER – Tamara Potocka (SVK), 57.32
BRONZE – Audrey Derivaux (USA), 58.56

25-year-old Angelina Köhler downed her own AP Race London International record en route to gold, clocking a swift outing of 57.00 to top the podium.

Slovak Tamara Potocka came within striking distance of the 57.20 national record Martina Moravcova registered in 2002, hitting 57.32 as tonight’s silver medalist.

Audrey Derivaux of the United States rounded out the podium in 58.56, just inside of a second off her PB of 57.57 produced at the 2025 World Junior Championships.

Köhler already ranked as the 3rd-fastest woman in the world in this event this season, courtesy of the 56.35 logged at last month’s German Championships.

MEN’S 200 BREASTSTROKE – FINAL

• British Record – 2:07.30, Ross Murdoch, 2014
• European Record – 2:05.85, Leon Marchand (FRA), 2024
• Meet Record – 2:08.21, Caspar Corbeau (NED), 2025

GOLD – Filip Nowacki (GBR), 2:08.85
SILVER – Oliver Dawson (CAN), 2:08.93
BRONZE – Alexei Avakov (USA), 2:11.28

Two men dipped under the 2:10 threshold in this 200m breaststroke final, led by British rising ace and World Junior Championships multi-gold medalist Filip Nowacki.

Nowacki hit the wall first in a time of 2:08.85, the 4th-fastest time of the young gun’s career.

Nowacki’s PB remains at the 2:07.32 he ripped at last year’s World Junior Championships to grab the gold ahead of Japan’s fellow prodigy Shin Ohashi.

Tonight, Canadian Oliver Dawson put the national record on notice, turning in a head-turning outing of 2:08.93. That fell only .09 outside the 2:08.84 Canadian standard Mike Brown put on the books over 15 years ago at the 2008 Olympic Games.

Finally, the United States’ Alexei Avkov rounded out the podium in 2:11.28 in this evening’s final.

WOMEN’S 200 IM – FINAL

• British Record – 2:06.88, Siobhan-Marie O’Connor, 2016
• European Record – 2:06.12, Katinka Hosszu (HUN), 2015
• Meet Record – 2:08.89, Sydney Pickrem (CAN), 2023

GOLD – Amalie Smith (GBR), 2:10.32 & Audrey Derivaux (USA), 2:10.32
SILVER – 
BRONZE – Abbie Wood (GBR), 2:11.20

It was a tale of two teenagers in this women’s 200m IM event, as fellow 16-year-olds Amalie Smith of the host natio and Audrey Derivaux of the United States ultimately touched in the same time of 2:10.32 to share gold.

The pair got to the wall ahead of Olympic finalist Abbie Wood, who settled for 3rd place in a still-solid mark of 2:11.20.

As for Smith, her time this evening overwrote the 2:11.44 PB and British National Age Group Record she established just in March of this year at the Edinburgh International Swim Meet. She now ranks as the 7th-fastest British woman in history in this event.

Dervaux’s outing is also a new lifetime best for the American, erasing the 2:10.58 clocked for gold at the 2025 World Junior Championships.

MEN’S 200 FREESTYLE – FINAL

• British Record – 1:44.22, Tom Dean, 2021
• European Record – 1:42.00, Paul Biedermann (GER), 2009
• Meet Record – 1:46.09, Tom Dean (GBR), 2023

GOLD – Matt Richards (GBR), 1:47.13
SILVER – Jarno Baeschnitt (GER), 1:47.33
BRONZE – James Guy (GBR), 1:47.43

Great Britain produced a 1 & 3 punch in this men’s 200m freestyle final, although none of the final times were anything out of the ordinary at an in-season meet.

Welsh national record holder and Olympic multi-gold medalist Matt Richards reaped gold in 1:47.13, just .20 ahead of Germany’s Jarno Baeschnitt who was relegated to the runner-up position in 1:47.33.

James Guy, a world champion and also a multi-Olympic medalist, produced 1:47.43 as the bronze medalist.